Índex per June 2021 a CrossStitcher

Designed by: Susan Penny Stitch count: 22 high x 26 wide (each hexgon) Design size: 4x4.5cm (1½x2¾in) Stitch time: 5 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. EXCLUSIVE READER KITS! You can send off for a handy kit containing all the materials you need to make these projects. Simply visit craftmag.co/crossstitcherkits to order your kit today! You can download your exclusive honeycomb aperture card from www.willowfabrics.com Make a… card Step 1 WORK using two strands of stranded cotton for the cross stitch, one and two strands for the backstitch and one for the French knots on a 12x12cm (4¾x4¾in) piece of white 14 count aida. Step 2 NOTE the hexagon designs are placed on the chart to fit exactly behind the card apertures (see tip above for how…

Hullo! One thing I’ve clung to throughout this year as I’ve tried to learn new skills and navigate this ever-changing world is the value of perseverance. Like any skill, perseverance needs to be practised for it to become a habit, but it’s a habit that can change our lives for the better. Luckily, there’s a beautiful flower that represents such a quality in the Victorian meaning of flowers we call floriology – the delicate magnolia. I have two port wine magnolias in my garden and the flowers literally smell like sweets – it brings me great delight whenever the breeze catches their scent and drifts it towards me. Getting my magnolias to flower is also a test in perseverance! They are still young so they don’t flower much currently, but…

How to… display your stitching WE used a house shaped wooden box frame, which we painted with a grey emulsion match pot and then made a cardboard triangle to fill in the front. The roof and front were then covered in tile paper, normally used for train modelling – both the box and paper are available from online craft and modelling shops. Designed by: Zoë Patching Stitch count: 60 high x 62 wide Design size: 11x11.5cm (43⁄8x4½in) Stitch time: 6 hours This design was stitched on 28 count linen over two threads of fabric. Materials Zweigart Antique White 28 countCashel, ref: 3281/0101; 20x20cm (8x8in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 26 tapestry needle Frame with an 11.5x11.5cm (4½ x 4½in) aperture Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com ZOË SAYS… It’s easy to…

As one of our valued stitchers, we’d like to learn a little more about you so we can tailor our content and communications to better suit you and your interests. If you would prefer to complete the survey online, please visit http://bit.ly/hobbiesreadersurvey and click the ‘complete the survey’ button for CrossStitcher. Alternatively, you can complete this on-page survey (or take a photocopy so you don’t have to take the page out) and send it to us using our freepost address: FREEPOST: WARNERSGROUP (CrossStitcher) Thank you for taking the time to complete our survey! 1. Which age category do you belong to? ❑ 18-24❑ 25-34❑ 35-44❑ 45-54❑ 55-64❑ 65+ 2. Which of the below best describes your family? (Please select all that apply) ❑ I don’t have children❑ I have children/a…

Designed by: Durene Jones Max. stitch count: 55 high x 40 wide Max. design size: 10x7.5cm (4x3in) Stitch time: 6½ hours each These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Make an… aperture card Step 1 WORK using two strands of stranded cotton for the cross stitch, and one or two strands for the backstitch. Step 2 TRIM the stitched fabric to fit your card, with the design centrally placed behind the card’s aperture. Step 3 ATTACH double-sided tape to the inside of the card around the edge of the aperture. Step 4 PLACE the stitching on the table right-side up, and then place the card on top, pressing down firmly on the tape. Step 5 CHECK which flap will fold onto the back of the stitching, then add strips…

Welcome to part 1 of a brand new series featuring Alice in Wonderland! Our Alice SAL which ended in January proved such a hit with so many of you, that we wanted to treat you to another design based on the books. This time Alice is sat at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party – with all its legendary guests, from the Cheshire cat to the caterpillar – plus a few bonus characters too! YOUR FINISHED TEA PARTY SCENE In this issue we are giving you the first part of the tea party – the left section. Over the next two issues you will receive the middle and right-hand side of the chart, which when stitched will make up into a complete tea party scene. Here’s how the complete scene will…

GRIMMS’ FAIRY TALES SAL This is the fifth part of this year’s stitch-a-long design. Over the year we will be bringing you 12 Fairy Tales. In this issue we are giving you Cinderella. We have greyed out the border from the first part of the design in the February issue. The grid lines are correct for the complete design, but the centre marks indicate the centre of just this motif. Designed by: Amanda Butler Stitch count: 36 high x 34 wide (character only)  Design size: 6.5x5.5cm (25⁄8x2¼in)  Stitch time: 3 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. THE KEY ALL THE symbols that appear on the chart are listed in the key with their corresponding thread codes beside them. The key also tells you the different stitches used…

ISSUE 371 SUMMER 2021 On sale 18 May Inside this month Aim high with our stunning giraffe family picture Whip up some chunky-stitch seashell cushions for summer! Escape to ‘sunshine in the Med’ with our Santorini scene Don’t miss part 2 of our Mad Hatter’s tea party design YOUR SUMMER BUMBER PACK Summer Meadow purse kit Your first kit for our exclusive Summer Stitch-A-Long Contents subject to change. Overseas gifts may vary.…

THE ART OF EMBROIDERED BUTTERFLIES JANE E. HALL [Search Press] Out in paperback, this book is a gallery of gorgeous creations, for you to enjoy looking at and become inspired by. Jane E. Hall uses her talent as a textile artist to make stunning 3D butterflies from silk thread stitching. There are 12 studies, including the Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell and the Brimstone, each shown along with the materials used to create them, and the photographs, swatches, drawings and paintings that inspired them. STITCH AMY BURT [GMC Publications] A must-have guide for anyone interested in cross stitch, embroidery and sewing–Stitch by Amy Burt is designed as ideal for beginner stitchers looking to make stylish additions to their wardrobes and home. There are 25 patterns that are fun and modern, but simple to…

CrossStitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch The Write Stuff, we have a materials pack with everything you need to get you stitching right away, and have it delivered straight to your door! Your materials pack contains: Zweigart 14 count aida in Mystic Grey Skeins of DMC stranded cotton Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 PLEASE NOTE: The backing fabric and cushion pad are not included in this pack. How to order: Fill in the form on page 15 or go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £34, plus P&P. Pick out different motifs to make mini pictures and cards, or to decorate gift items such as a pencil case Designed by: Emma Congdon Stitch count: 140 high…

SARAH WARD I use R & R plastic frames as I find them easy to hold and lightweight. HEATHER KAYE I have always used a hoop… I have several sizes. I can’t use anything else as my cat insists on sitting on my lap while I stitch! But I always take the hoop off the project each night… a top tip I read in your magazine years ago… so it doesn’t spoil round the edges. COLLEEN O’DONNELL-SUTTON I have a roller frame that has a lap stand and a standing frame. I love it. Totally leaves both hands free to stitch. IRENE HURT I was given a floor standing wooden frame many years ago, it may not be a super deluxe frame, but it works for me. KERRILYN ELIZABETH I have the…

Designed by: Maria Diaz Stitch count: 39 high x 49 wide Design size: 7x9cm (23⁄4x31⁄2in) Stitch time: 5 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Make an… aperture card Step 1 WORK using two strands of stranded cotton for the cross stitch, one and two for the backstitch, and one for the French knots. Step 2 TRIM the stitched fabric to fit your card, with the design centrally placed behind the card’s aperture. Step 3 ATTACH double-sided tape to the inside of the card around the edge of the aperture. Step 4 PLACE the stitching on the table right-side up, and then place the card on top, pressing down firmly on the tape. Step 5 CHECK which flap will fold onto the back of the stitching, then add strips…

Like many of you, I’ve been enjoyed my garden more over the last year, and have planted several roses in my flower beds. As June is National Rose month in many countries, I wanted to pay homage to this fragrant flower, popular in wedding bouquets and well-known for its association with love and romance. Why not stitch a little love this June, and learn a new stitching skill! We used a Zweigart Vintage Pink 32 count Belfast linen ref:3609/4219 to cover the button, available from www.willowfabrics.com How to… finish your ribbon rose brooch CUT your stitching into a 6cm (23⁄8in) circle with the design in the centre. Cut a circle of soft facial tissue. Remove the button shank from a 38mm self-cover button. Wrap just one layer of tissue over the button…

Wild idea! Rico’s latest embroidery book, no. 173: ACID LEO, features cool leopard patterns in bold statement colours, as well as plain monograms and on-trend block stripes. The repeat patterns are perfect for bath towels, hand towels, wash mitts and bibs and the book also includes details for cross stitch patterns on coloured monks cloth and aida – with some designed to fit Rico’s cool new triangular frames. There are enough ideas here to give your whole home a really wild makeover! www.rico-design.com MY CRAFT ROOM: ELAINE GALLACHER We get to see a glimpse of a designer’s own craft space… “This is my little design/craft corner of the house. Hopefully one day I’ll have a whole craft room but in the meantime I store everything I use the most here……

CrossStitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Ship Ahoy!, we have a materials pack with everything you need to get you stitching right away, and have it delivered straight to your door! Your materials pack contains: Sampedro 14 count aida in White Skeins of DMC stranded cotton Anchor charm Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 How to order: Fill in the form on page 15 or go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £25, plus P&P. Materials Sampedro White 14 count aida; 60x50cm (23½x19½in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Frame with 20x29cm (8x11¼in) aperture Mount board to fit frame Anchor charm Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com How to… frame a picture Step 1…

Why not add a brooch back to your buttons instead so your kids can also wear these on a jacket? Designed by: Fiona Crouch Max. stitch count: 18 high x 19 wide Design size: 3.5x3.5cm (1⅜x1⅜in) Stitch time: 1½ hours These designs were stitched on 27 count evenweave over two threads of fabric. Make a… hair bobble Step 1 CUT around the stitching, using the template provided on the button packaging so that your stitching is in the centre of a 6.5cm (2½in) circle. Step 2 PULL your fabric around the button front as tight as you can. If you like, use a small piece of double-sided tape to hold your fabric in place. Step 3 USE your fingernail to tighten and smooth any lumpy areas around the perimeter of…

You can almost exactly track the length of Liz Dunford’s marriage to husband Pete, from the moment she saw a sampler in CrossStitcher in 1997 to finally completing it this year… October 1997’s issue of CrossStitcher featured a vegetables sampler, which caught Liz Dunford’s, of South Wales, eye. Over a decade later, when Liz graduated from university in July 2008, she decided the sampler would be the perfect present for her husband Pete to thank him for all his support. “We’d married a year previously and he loves cooking,” explains Liz, “It said it would only take three weeks, and I probably cut it fine to get it started.” Of course the story doesn’t end there, something many other stitchers will be able to relate to! Liz didn’t finish it…

Double-check that you'll be stitching in the correct position on your fabric – it’s easy to accidentally stitch the design on the back cover! Designed by: Jane Prutton Stitch count: 80 high x 57 wide Design size: 14.5x10.5cm (53⁄4x41⁄4in) Stitch time: 20 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. *See ‘The Key’ on page 80. Make a… notebook cover Step 1 WRAP your fabric around the notebook to check the position of the front cover and then mark the design area given above onto the fabric using pins – you will be working on the right-hand side of your fabric. Make sure you have left 1.25cm (½in) at the top and bottom of the fabric for turnings, and 6cm (21⁄2in) on the left and right-hand side for…

THE CHALLENGE THE RULES Welcome to this month’s designer challenge! 20 June is Father’s Day in the UK this year, and our challenge this time is perfect if you’re looking to stitch and send a card to your dad. We asked our three designers to create a nautical themed card using only the materials we gave them – aida and just six shades of stranded cotton – plus, they had to incorporate an anchor charm into their design in some way. Read on to see our designers’ ingenious and inventive results! If you’d like to take on our next challenge, turn to page 75 for details of the challenge for our July issue! AMANDA BUTLER… OVER & UNDER THE WAVES This nautical challenge…